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Hugoton, Kansas

Hugoton, Kansas

Hugoton was originally named Hugo as suggested by E.G. Collyer upon entering Stevens County. The town was promoted and platted by a banking firm from McPherson, but there was no preference for a name. Newspapers had just accounted the death of Victor Hugo, so Collyer suggested honoring him with the name of their city so it was adopted and platted. It was later changed to Hugoton to distinguish it from the town in Colorado.

The Hay Meadow Massacre was the culmination of the "Bloody Stevens" battle over the county seat being located at Hugoton or the once prospering Woodsdale, now a memory only. So shocked was the state, that even William Allen White of the Emporia Gazette came to do a story.

When the railroad reached Hugoton in 1913 it was a day of celebration, but the discovery of natural gas in 1926 put Hugoton on the world map. In 1927, Hugoton put the cap on the world's largest gas field. The Hugoton Pool is over 1500 miles long, north and south, and 50 miles wide, east and west.


Stevens County has 5,417 acres of walk-in hunting.

Attractions and Upcoming Events

Hugoton Gas Derrick

The gas well that was dug into the Hugoton Gas Field in 1945

Hugoton, KS Natural Attractions

City Parks

There are three parks within the city limits, with City Park

Hugoton, KS Recreation

Early Methodist Church

The Early Methodist Church was built in 1905-1906 and was the second church built in Hugoton. Currently the church is being used by St. Timothy's Episcopal Church congregation each Sunday. Located in the Museum Complex.

Hugoton, KS Historic Churches

The Hugoton Meteorite

The Hugoton Meteorite was located on the J.D. Lynch farm, in Stevens County, four miles west and two miles north of Hugoton. It is now housed at the Arizona State University for the Center For Meteorite Studies and Museum of Geology at Tempe.

Hugoton, KS Natural Attractions

Santa Fe Depot

The Hugoton Santa Fe Depot was first known in 1913, when the railroad came to Stevens county. It was removed from its location in 1982 and taken to the museum complex, having a service record of over 70

Hugoton, KS Railroad History

Things to do near Hugoton, KS

Clear Lake

When the wagon trains turned south at Chouteau's Island from the Santa Fe Trail, to go down to the Cimarron River at Wagon Be...

Lake Coldwater Camping

Utilized by people from a large area of Kansas and Oklahoma, the lake provides ample facilities and opportunities for boating...